The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-10-26
"Reminiscences of a PhrenOlOgist.

The veteran phrenologist of Vermont and
perhaps New England as WELL has now gone
from his work. at over seventy years of age,
with a record of half century's service.
He was in many queer circumstances and
the vim and vivacity of many colossal Jokes.
Once, in the northern part of New Hamp-
shire, he gave his first lecture in that place
in the village hall, intending to follow the
discourse, if satisfactory with a series of
them. AT the close of his remarks fellow
in one corner inquired, with some display of
temerity whether the speaker would consent
to being blindfolded and perform a public
examination of a head on the following even
ing. The professor replied in the affirmative
and the man remarked, with a snort
WAL eff your goin' ter resk your profits in
this town on that head termorrer youW
come ont spring poor, I'll betcher." The
meeting adjourned and the next night
the room was crowded with people from
all around, anXiously awaiting to see
the science and its exponent rise or
fall in the trial. The fellow who had
challenged the professor firmly refused
to say anything about whose head
was to be examined only that he
had fellow coming, and when the
professor had been blindfoded that fell
low-who was a notorious liar-walked
up and seated himself, and the audience
waited with abated breath. After feeling
of the subjects head for few moments and
telling some qualities in general, the exam
liner stopped. DO You find any peculiar
faculty." inquired a man on the front seat.
The phrenologist lowered his head little
and said: " will not deny that | do. If
you have a story that has come ont spring poor
give it to this man and he will fat it up"
The enthusiasm that supplemented this
diagnosis of character was intense and the
affair gave a full house every evening there
after. AT another time the professor stayed
over night at a hotel where LaPage, Yer
mont's most noted murderer afterward
was also The professor left quite early in
the morning and while his team was being
brought around LaPages crones went
with rush to get him out of bed in time
to have his head examined. He came
down hurriedly and gruifly swearing about
not having time to put his boots on. The
professor clapped his hand on this subjects
| head, and turning to his favorites, remarked
He will die with his boots on if they
are lacking now" The phrase " die
with his boots on " was not ther
so common as it is now, and it was
not until LaPage swung from the gallow'
with leather sole, if no other, that the
| significant remark was appreciated. In Mas
sachusetts the professor found the creates
| deficiency in the bump of order. There was
a vacuum of about this size A good churcl
| deacon took COW up TO fatten in his barr
and let her starve to death. He attended
his meeting, but entirely forgot his cow
Again minister was receiving "A delinea
ton of his character and very superior
but somewhat vain head was discovered
| To test his science-that is, to tell whether
the man was really vain, and to see whether
that vanity had been sanctified-he was tolt
that he had great power of prayer. The
good clerical gentleman straig htened up
winked approvingly and joined the verde
thus: "That's correct, professor, perfect.
correct; ! can pray to a dot, %. s. AnnfS
| in st. Adams Messenger.